This is lesson 3 of 8 which will tell how any boy can make a complete model airplane
which will fly under its own power. 'Warren DeLancey, writer of the articles, was formerly
president of the Illinois Model Aero Club, a group of boys who build and fly their own
models and who hold nine of the ten world's records for model airplane flying. Clip these
articles until you have the complete set, including the directions for flying your machine.

The drawing above shows the motor-base of the model
aeroplane complete with the tail-plane and rudder. Also at the front the skids are shown
which act as the chassis of the airplane and from which the model will rise from the
ground under its own power at the start of a flight.

The motor-base is made of a stick of white pine which is sawed and planed smooth to
a piece 12 inches long, 3-16 inch wide, and 1-16 inch thick.

Make Bamboo Frame

The framework for the tail-plane and rudder and also the wooden landing skids are
split from bamboo such as can be had from an ordinary fishpole. This wood can be easily
split with the grain straight by means of a jack-knife. The pith on the inside should
be cut away and the hard outside shell cut off, then the stick split down until it is
about the size of the large end of a tooth-pick. Do not try to split through knots in
the bamboo, rather use a piece cut from between the knots.

Take a piece of this split bamboo just 6 inches long and mark the middle. Put a drop
of household glue here and bind the stick to the edge of one end of the piece cut for
the motor-base. Bind it at right angles to the larger piece with silk thread.

Rudder is Triangular

Measure 2 inches forward on the motor-base and mark the point. From here tow pieces
of bamboo extend to the tips of the first piece. Glue and bind in position. This forms
the triangular framework for the tail-plane shown in the drawing.

Fro the rudder a piece of bamboo 3 inches long is bound so as to extend straight to
the rear of the motor-base. Directly behind the motor-base a piece 2 inches long is bound
upright to this and a third piece connects the tips of the other two. This forms the
triangular rudder. Make all joints with glue and silk thread. A careful study of the
drawing will give a better idea of the arrangement of the tail-planes, which are now
completed.